JosieK

hi tx kimmie i just had my first fill yesterday. dr spivak actually thought i didnt need it (he was probably right) so we agreed upon a small fill. i started to get hungry and gained 4 lbs. which is why i wanted it. i couldnt eat for about 8 wks after surgery. i just started eating over memorial day. i still cant eat meat. so i'm a little tighter but not as bad as when i first had surgery. i caused my earlier problems by not eating slowly or small bites i also started to increase exercise......

good luck anni.....let us know when you get your date

hi ginger, there are these test tubes called: whey Liquid Protein-42 they have 42 gms of Protein. there is also ones with 25 gms of protein they come in grape, fruit punch, orange, blue raspberry i buy them on a website called A1supplements.com they have low calories and low carbs. i put them in a glass of ice and pretty much this fills alot of my protein requirements without the calories. hope this helps

hi sky, not sure where you live but i belong to lifetime fitness in texas. the club itself is beautiful. they keep it really clean. in texas...the quality of the staff is mediocre. i just moved from NY where the staff members at my club up there (equinox) were the ultimate professionals. this could be just my club ...i'm not sure. but i have written to the corporate office without any reply. if you dont need any service....this is the club for you. the equipment is great. it's hit or miss on the classes. we happen to have a few really good teachers. location....for me...location is key. it needs to be accessible. how far away is the club? it's funny this question is all relative. in NYC if something is more then 3 blocks away...it's too far. here in texas if it's within 10 miles...."it's just down the road a piece" ha!! overall i'm staying with the club as there are more positives then negatives. good luck.

hi i just saw info on a weight loss surgery conference in austin on june 23rd. has anyone attended one of these? are they worth it? thanks

hey laura, maybe you should give your future in-laws the wrong date...the old date... ha! actually i was just in vegas and i think a vegas wedding could be cool... good luck

hi sleepyjean, you are totally NOT being selfish......but your sister is... there are 2 possible ways to handle in my mind: 1. be totally upfront: say "hey sis...we havent seen or spoken to each other in 5 yrs....so while i'm happy you are coming to california....i think it is best if you sleep at a hotel and we can play in the day" or 2. "hey sis....while i would love for your and your tribe to stay with me....my apartment is way too small for all of us. i've found a few hotels that are reasonably priced"...and then give her the list stand strong.... when i lived in a 1 bedroom in NYC...i would get stressed and hate being backed into a corner....makes me an animal... the week would go much better if you stand your ground. she is overstepping hers by asking you when you already told her to stay at a hotel good luck and let us know how you make out

hi areellady, up until memorial day....i've had trouble eating almost everything. however grilled portobello mushrooms were easier for me to eat. i didnt have trouble with them. (i cut into small pieces and chewed) i marinated them in olive oil, salt + pepper and a little balsamic vinegar... grill about 4-5 mins on each side....yummmmm! enjoy!

hey disregard my post below. i was posting to another person's question and it switched over to this thread.....very weird.

hi abyssmum, do you mean just having binge's or bingeing and throwing up? either way...i was concerned about getting the band as i have had bulimia in the past where i would eat enormous amounts of food and throw up afterwards. actually i think about food less since being banded. i'm full more often. also i dont think you can binge with the band. you can end up having your stomach slip and that creates a host of medical problems. i was worried they would not do the operation because of my past but it hasnt posed any problems. good luck g

hey good luck..... remember a pillow and blanket for ride home...and also loose clothes for post-op ride home. these were 3 of the best suggestions i recvd. i actually wore pj's home. see you in lapband...

hi i was self pay. i went to the seminar on wednesday and had my surgery 2 days later on friday.... i didnt have any medical problems so i didnt have to have any special testing. if i did have medical issues...it would have been later it was great...no time to think

hi phiochick, i'm thinking what faithmd said makes sense...why not try lapband (the less invasive surgery) first. i've seen many people on this site lose weight with it that have high BMI. in fact there is a thread dedicated to high BMI's. you may want to look at that one to see the success stories.... if that didnt work...then you could go for the more extreme measure... but after seeing so many miracles on this website...i think it can work. before lapband... like you...i would lose 20-30 lbs and be gung ho for a few weeks on a diet and exercise program. i would then fall off the wagon and gain that back..plus plus. after lapband..i feel differently. i am not hungry like i was before and i dont think about food 24/7. it's so weird....i've thought about food for the past 49 years.. anyway good luck in your research and keep us posted

hi cindylou. i was banded 3/30/07 and was not able to eat until last weekend. when i couldnt eat at all....they did a barium swallow test and said my band was "perfect" altho' i was miserable. i was doing either Protein shakes or the whey protein bullets (which were great when i couldnt get the shakes down...) and Soup at night. Vitamins are key i was so upset because i didnt think anyone else had this problem. i should have posted a topic like you did...good move. last weekend all of a sudden i could eat a solid....it is still not alot. and i must stand to eat..... anyway my situation is a little different but i wanted to let you know what happened to me as it has since changed. when i was in the middle of this i was panicing thinking i was the only person in the world to have this problem. i agree with an earlier post where it said the doctor should eat the cost. he chose the band size and should back what he did. good luck....and keep the faith. one thing that kept me going was reading posts on this site...so many positive ones.

hi alexandra. thank you for your post. i have in the back of my mind that i will have the band removed once i get down to my weight. i have had alot of trouble with the band. your story is telling me i have to reconsider. i also think i need to deal with the emotional component of our problem. most people i noticed deal with the physical (which is big). i have a good feeling about your doctor being able to accomplish this.... good luck and keep us posted

hi, keep your chin up....michelle said it right...this is a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things. and when you are strutting around in your smaller size clothes...you will look at this as a mere pittance of time it really is worth it. i havent been able to eat for 2 mos due to some issues i caused after surgery...i live on Protein shakes, Soup and Vitamins... but i'm down 3 sizes and are feeling curves i havent felt in years. i know how you feel..i have been discouraged in the past 2 mos but i try to remember the end game. good luck

hi carlene what a nice story....i'm sure you impacted these kids in more ways then they can express with words. i think back to teachers that impacted me....and wonder if they ever knew how much they did. i am in the process of getting certified to foster/adopt children. i sometimes get scared thinking about it. after reading your message...i have to realize...it isnt always about me. your message gives me courage....

hi audrey....it is perfectly normal what you are feeling about the surgery. i started investigating this surgery in 2002...i just had it this past march and i went into the operating room practically hyperventilating. like you i had never had surgery in the past....i also never was in a hospital. but...i am VERY glad i did it. i also agree with you...why not get it done when the problem is not bigger. i've elected to only tell people that will support me. and NOT tell anyone that has a big negative opinion about surgery for weight loss. i made the mistake initially and told someone who did have a VERY negative reaction...and that cured me of telling any other negative people. i will tell you.....no one knows what we've been through unless they've been through it themselves. i also have discovered something that makes me feel better after having the surgery... in past i always blamed myself for my eating...emotional eating... after surgery i've come to believe that some of my problem "pre-banding" was really physical hunger. the band is placed at the top of the stomach where the receptors are that tell your brain you are full. so i feel full most of the time now..... the surgery is definitely a useful tool that makes me feel like i really can lose this weight. good for you for taking this step....:clap2: let us know how you make out...also the pre and post op lists on this website were very helpful for me...especially the loose clothing for the ride home and a pillow and blanket. i had a nice snooze on the way home.

hi...i was a little bored this afternoon and happened upon this thread in "new posts"......WOW! so i'll add my 2 cents... i went to spivak and am very happy with the results. i had some issues after surgery which were of my own making (eating bites too big, too fast, etc) and ended up with aspiration pneumonia. i cant tell you how happy i am with spivak and especially his staff's help in first helping me to identify the problem (ie. the fluro showed the band in perfect position...but i couldnt eat a thing for 4 weeks) i agree with many of your posts that say you need to know what you think is important and choose a doctor accordingly. when i was researching i solely focused on the surgery. (my surgery was in park plaza and they were super) now....if i had to do it over...i would give equal focus to the aftercare which in my opinion is also super important. i do not have an opinion on dr spiegel because i dont know him. there seem to be quite a number of successful patients on this site that used him.... i will say "supersize 8" (i forget her actual web name) does not represent Dr spiegel very well .....

hi the ads dont bother me but the slow speed does so i said i would pay to get rid of them....

allison....i agree with you.....i was pissed too about the article

hi, i would like to join in. my plan this week is: mon/wed/fri: weights tues/thurs: 60 min spin class. i will check in with my results have a great day

sallyjo...i just happened to see your post and wanted to reach out to you. i am praying for you and your daughter. you definitely are in good hands in baylor.... the liver is a remarkable organ. so with your daughters transplant....i'm sure she will be back in action soon. a different organ but similar path...my nephew had kidney disease. the time before his transplant was very difficult and kept getting worse. once he had his transplant (1 yr ago) he is back up and even playing hockey again (which we never thought he would do again) good luck and best wishes

hi sophie, one thing that helps me alot since being banded is drinking the water we are supposed to drink. it really takes the hunger away. also just thinking that this isnt forever. once we get down to our goals....we can pretty much eat what we want in the right proportion. keep the faith baby!

hi carlene yes i did have a fluroscope check and the band was "perfect" per my doc. i'm going to give this a few more weeks and see what happens... it seems weird that i cant eat....but my doctor says all is ok.